Rabbi Alissa Miller — affectionately known as RAM — has served on the clergy team of Temple Isaiah in Lafayette since 2007. She was ordained at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles in 2007, where she also earned a Master of Arts in Jewish Education in 2005. She grew up in Denver, where she was deeply involved in her local and regional chapters of NFTY and spent many summers at Shwayder Camp. She attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, earning a BA in Sociology with a minor in Jewish Studies, and spent her junior year studying abroad at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. After graduating from college, she came to Temple Isaiah for the first time, where she served as Assistant Youth Director and Administrative Assistant for the Education Department from 1999 to 2001—an early chapter in a lifelong commitment to youth engagement and Jewish learning.

In her role as Rabbi of Community Engagement at Temple Isaiah, Rabbi Miller oversees engagement for all ages and has focused for most of her tenure on the congregation’s vibrant programs for youth, teens, and young families. She directs Noar Night, the temple’s teen education program and Camp Kefli, their day camp; and coordinates Kulanu, a family program inspired by the spirit of youth groups.

Her passion and impact in the field of Jewish education were recognized nationally in 2017, when she received the Pomegranate Prize from the Covenant Foundation, honoring her as a rising leader in Jewish education.

One of the primary reasons for Rabbi Miller’s success is her genuine passion for empowering teens and young adults. She goes beyond what is asked of a Rabbi in a congregational setting. She actively seeks opportunities to inspire, mentor, and guide Temple Isaiah youth toward realizing their full potential in the Jewish community and broader community. In the words of one of her teen nominators, “She truly is magical….you will never meet anyone more compassionate about their job as a teen Jewish educator than Alissa Miller. She inspires me so much and really helped me love and cherish my Jewish identity.

Rabbi Miller is married to Dan Miller, and they live in Walnut Creek with their two children, Leo and Jake.

This information was taken directly from the Award recipient’s nomination, and are the words of their colleagues.